Oregon Students Awarded $480,000 in scholarships through the ECMC Scholars Program

SALEM- State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo today announced that 72 graduating ECMC Oregon Scholars will receive $480,000 in scholarships for college thanks to the generosity of the ECMC Foundation.

The ECMC Scholars Program, sponsored by ECMC Foundation, was established to help students with potential but not necessarily the best grades prepare to graduate from high school and go on to some form of higher education.

To date, ECMC Foundation has pledged more than $7 million to the ECMC Scholars Program, which operates independently in both Virginia and Oregon.

Students who successfully complete the program earn $4,000 to pay for their first year of college and are eligible to receive $2,000 for their second year. This year’s ECMC Oregon Scholars include 72 graduating seniors.

In partnership with the Oregon Department of Education, ECMC Foundation works with eight public high schools throughout the state to execute the ECMC Scholars Program. Every year, committees of teachers, guidance counselors and other educators from these schools choose sophomores to participate in the program during their junior and senior years. Candidates are chosen based on which students show potential and are most likely to benefit from the additional mentoring and support provided through the program.

“In these economically challenging times, the ECMC Scholars Program is an incredible opportunity for Oregon students,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo. “It inspires our high school students to work hard and keep their eye on the prize of attending college after graduation. I am thankful for the vision and continued financial support of the ECMC Foundation.”

Below is a complete listing of Oregon’s ECMC Scholars and their participating schools:

ECMC Foundation helps low-income, first-generation, college-bound students of all ages further their education goals. Through innovative outreach programs, we convey to students the importance of completing high school, and we continue our mission by developing and distributing programs that focus on college access, retention and success. ECMC Foundation partners with government agencies, educational institutions and community organizations to make the dream of higher education a reality. For more information, visit www.ecmcfoundation.org. ECMC Foundation is funded by ECMC Group.